Integers

Positive and Negative Integers

Positive integers are all the whole numbers greater than zero: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... . Negative integers are all the opposites of these whole numbers: -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, …. We do not consider zero to be a positive or negative number. For each positive integer, there is a negative integer, and these integers are called opposites. For example, -3 is the opposite of 3, -21 is the opposite of 21, and 8 is the opposite of -8. If an integer is greater than zero, we say that its sign is positive. If an integer is less than zero, we say that its sign is negative.

Example:

Integers are useful in comparing a direction associated with certain events. Suppose I take five steps forwards: this could be viewed as a positive 5. If instead, I take 8 steps backwards, we might consider this a -8. Temperature is another way negative numbers are used. On a cold day, the temperature might be 10 degrees below zero Celsius, or -10°C.

The Number Line

The number line is a line labeled with the integers in increasing order from left to right, that extends in both directions:

For any two different places on the number line, the integer on the right is greater than the integer on the left.

Examples:

9 > 4, 6 > -9, -2 > -8, and 0 > -5

Absolute Value of an Integer

The number of units a number is from zero on the number line. The absolute value of a number is always a positive number (or zero). We specify the absolute value of a number n by writing n in between two vertical bars: |n|.

Examples:

|6| = 6|-12| = 12|0| = 0|1234| = 1234|-1234| = 1234

Adding Integers

1) When adding integers of the same sign, we add their absolute values, and give the result the same sign.

2) When adding integers of the opposite signs, we take their absolute values, subtract the smaller from the larger, and give the result the sign of the integer with the larger absolute value.

Example:

8 + (-3) = ? The absolute values of 8 and -3 are 8 and 3. Subtracting the smaller from the larger gives 8 - 3 = 5, and since the larger absolute value was 8, we give the result the same sign as 8, so 8 + (-3) = 5.

Example:

8 + (-17) = ?The absolute values of 8 and -17 are 8 and 17. Subtracting the smaller from the larger gives 17 - 8 = 9, and since the larger absolute value was 17, we give the result the same sign as -17, so 8 + (-17) = -9.

Example:

-22 + 11 = ?The absolute values of -22 and 11 are 22 and 11. Subtracting the smaller from the larger gives 22 - 11 = 11, and since the larger absolute value was 22, we give the result the same sign as -22, so -22 + 11 = -11.

Example:

53 + (-53) = ?

The absolute values of 53 and -53 are 53 and 53. Subtracting the smaller from the larger gives 53 - 53 =0. The sign in this case does not matter, since 0 and -0 are the same. Note that 53 and -53 are opposite integers. All opposite integers have this property that their sum is equal to zero. Two integers that add up to zero are also called additive inverses.

Note that the result of subtracting two integers could be positive or negative.

Multiplying Integers

To multiply a pair of integers if both numbers have the same sign, their product is the product of their absolute values (their product is positive). If the numbers have opposite signs, their product is the opposite of the product of their absolute values (their product is negative). If one or both of the integers is 0, the product is 0.

Examples:

In the product below, both numbers are positive, so we just take their product.4 × 3 = 12

In the product below, both numbers are negative, so we take the product of their absolute values.(-4) × (-5) = |-4| × |-5| = 4 × 5 = 20

In the product of (-7) × 6, the first number is negative and the second is positive, so we take the product of their absolute values, which is |-7| × |6| = 7 × 6 = 42, and give this result a negative sign: -42, so (-7) × 6 = -42.

In the product of 12 × (-2), the first number is positive and the second is negative, so we take the product of their absolute values, which is |12| × |-2| = 12 × 2 = 24, and give this result a negative sign: -24, so 12 × (-2) = -24.

To multiply any number of integers:

1. Count the number of negative numbers in the product. 2. Take the product of their absolute values.3. If the number of negative integers counted in step 1 is even, the product is just the product from step 2, if the number of negative integers is odd, the product is the opposite of the product in step 2 (give the product in step 2 a negative sign). If any of the integers in the product is 0, the product is 0.

Example:

4 × (-2) × 3 × (-11) × (-5) = ?

Counting the number of negative integers in the product, we see that there are 3 negative integers: -2, -11, and -5. Next, we take the product of the absolute values of each number:4 × |-2| × 3 × |-11| × |-5| = 1320. Since there were an odd number of integers, the product is the opposite of 1320, which is -1320, so4 × (-2) × 3 × (-11) × (-5) = -1320.

Dividing Integers

To divide a pair of integers if both integers have the same sign, divide the absolute value of the first integer by the absolute value of the second integer.To divide a pair of integers if both integers have different signs, divide the absolute value of the first integer by the absolute value of the second integer, and give this result a negative sign.

Examples:

In the division below, both numbers are positive, so we just divide as usual.4 ÷ 2 = 2.

In the division below, both numbers are negative, so we divide the absolute value of the first by the absolute value of the second. (-24) ÷ (-3) = |-24| ÷ |-3| = 24 ÷ 3 = 8.

In the division (-100) ÷ 25, both number have different signs, so we divide the absolute value of the first number by the absolute value of the second, which is |-100| ÷ |25| = 100 ÷ 25 = 4, and give this result a negative sign: -4, so (-100) ÷ 25 = -4.

In the division 98 ÷ (-7), both number have different signs, so we divide the absolute value of the first number by the absolute value of the second, which is |98| ÷ |-7| = 98 ÷ 7 = 14, and give this result a negative sign: -14, so 98 ÷ (-7) = -14.

Integer coordinates

Integer coordinates are pairs of integers that are used to determine points in a grid, relative to a special point called the origin. The origin has coordinates (0,0). We can think of the origin as the center of the grid or the starting point for finding all other points. Any other point in the grid has a pair of coordinates (x,y). The x value or x-coordinate tells how many steps left or right the point is from the point (0,0), just like on the number line (negative is left of the origin, positive is right of the origin). The y value or y-coordinate tells how many steps up or down the point is from the point (0,0), (negative is down from the origin, positive is up from the origin). Using coordinates, we may give the location of any point in the grid we like by simply using a pair of numbers.

Example:

The origin below is where the x-axis and the y-axis meet. Point A has coordinates (2,3), since it is 2 units to the right and 3 units up from the origin. Point B has coordinates (3,1), since it is 3 units to the right, and 1 unit up from the origin. Point C has coordinates (8,-5), since it is 8 units to the right, and 5 units down from the origin. Point D has coordinates (9,-8); it is 9 units to the right, and 8 units down from the origin. Point E has coordinates (-4,-3); it is 4 units to the left, and 3 units down from the origin. Point F has coordinates (-7,6); it is 7 units to the left, and 6 units up from the origin.

Comparing Integers

We can compare two different integers by looking at their positions on the number line. For any two different places on the number line, the integer on the right is greater than the integer on the left. Note that every positive integer is greater than any negative integer.